Longtime North Central CT Meat Retailer Adding a New Twist — Beer

VERNON, CT — A business that has been supplying north central Connecticut with fresh meats for decades is adding a new twist to its offerings — local and regional craft beers.

Kurt Bogner, the owner of Bogner's Quality Meats, said he was granted a Connecticut beer permit for the Vernon location at 1084 Hartford Turnpike. He said the retail store will begin featuring the beers soon.

"We wanted to add something different, so we applied for the beer permit," Bogner said. "We plan on offering local beers and beers from New England to support other local businesses. It adds something to the meats we've been featuring for all these years."

Bogner said he is meeting with a distributor Friday to iron out the elections. Bogner maintained he would be remiss as a businessman if he did offer some "main-line beers" and even hinted some craft beers from other regions might be featured in time. For now, though, Bogner's will concentrate on Connecticut brews and then beers from across New England.

He named City Steam out of Hartford as one label.

William Bogner Sr. brought his talents to American from Italy in 1925. He and his wife, Helen, landed in New York and William began working for Hebrew National and other sausage facilities.

Some two decades later, he and Helen moved to Manchester with ones sons William Jr., and Donald and built a slaughter house. The family sold fresh fresh beef to local meat processors, along with sausages and wine.

In 1965, William Jr. and Donald built their meat processing plant on Wetherell Street Manchester and used their father's recipes to make sausage products still being g offered today.

William Jr. and sons Kurt, Robert David bought the business in 1992 and also acquired Stanleys Nutmeg Brand and Angellina Sausage company. Bogner's took on the butchers from Union Meat Lewis Beef when the businesses closed to fully stock its roster. Bogner's has been a business staple in the area ever since.

The beer offerings will only apply to the Vernon store, Kurt Borgner said.